Pediatric Audiology
Pediatric Audiology
If your child has trouble responding to sounds, speaking clearly or following conversations, they may be experiencing signs of hearing loss. Pediatric audiology focuses on identifying and treating hearing conditions in children, from infancy through adolescence.
At Baptist Medical Network, our experienced pediatric audiologists use age-appropriate tests and tools to assess hearing function in children of all ages. Our South Texas Pediatric Specialists facility in San Antonio is dedicated to helping children improve their lives with better hearing, from routine newborn hearing screening to a more detailed pediatric audiology evaluation to help detect issues early and guide the best course of hearing loss treatment.
What Is Pediatric Audiology?
Pediatric audiology is a medical specialty focused on diagnosing and treating hearing and balance disorders in children, from birth through adolescence. Pediatric audiologists are trained to evaluate how well a child hears, identify the cause of hearing difficulties, and provide personalized recommendations for hearing loss treatment or further intervention.
Using child-friendly techniques such as audiometry and otoacoustic emissions testing, pediatric audiologists perform comprehensive hearing assessments to detect any issues with sound processing. Pediatric audiologists play a vital role in a child’s health and development. In addition to evaluating hearing, they collaborate with other specialists, such as speech-language pathologists and ENT physicians, to support communication skills and overall well-being. Whether a child needs a routine newborn hearing screening, help with cerumen removal, or a complete pediatric audiology assessment, early care from trained professionals can lead to better outcomes and improved quality of life.
How Does a Hearing Test Work?
A child’s hearing test helps pediatric audiologists understand how well your child hears and processes sound. Pediatric audiologists use age-appropriate techniques tailored to your child’s development, health and ability to respond.
In most cases, hearing tests begin with behavioral hearing assessments, where the audiologist plays soft tones, speech or calibrated sounds and watches for your child’s response. Infants may turn their head or move their eyes, while older children may raise a hand or point to a picture in response to sound.
When behavioral responses are not possible or conclusive, audiologists use advanced diagnostic tools to evaluate the inner ear, hearing nerve and brain response to sound. These may include:
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) testing, which measures cochlear function and is commonly used in newborn hearing screening
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, which tracks how sound signals move from the ear to the brain
- Auditory steady state response (ASSR) testing, which may be paired with ABR for more detailed results
- Tympanometry, to check for middle ear problems such as fluid buildup or a perforated eardrum
- Middle ear muscle reflex (MEMR) testing, which measures the ear’s protective response to loud sounds
- Central auditory evoked potential (CAEP) testing, to assess how sound travels through the hearing pathway in the brain
Pediatric audiologists also check for common issues such as earwax buildup and may recommend cerumen removal when necessary. These tests identify hearing loss symptoms and help audiologists create individualized care plans, especially if hearing loss treatment, speech therapy or follow-up care is needed.
How Long Does a Pediatric Hearing Test Take?
A pediatric audiology assessment can take between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on your child’s age and which tests are needed.
A newborn hearing screening typically lasts only a few minutes and is often done while the baby is asleep. For infants or young children who need additional testing, a complete pediatric audiology evaluation may include multiple procedures and take closer to an hour.
Children old enough to participate in behavioral testing may complete the process more quickly. However, if your child needs advanced testing, such as ABR or OAE or is being evaluated for tinnitus hearing loss or ear balance problem treatment, more time may be needed to complete all necessary assessments comfortably.
The goal of each hearing test is to get the most accurate picture of your child’s hearing health in a safe, calm and supportive environment.